Heat exchanging apparatus



Sept. 1, 1970 C, F, PAvLlN ET AL 3,526,099'

, HEAT EXGHANGING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 29, 1968 5`SheetS-Sheet l 4 'A l0 L /0 .9 I v 1 9 l 1 .W

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sept. 1, '1970 C, F, pAVLlN ET AL 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Spt. 1, 1970 C, F, pAvLlN ET AL 3,526,099 v HEAT EXCHANGING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 29, 196e 5 sheets-sheet s 67" www 6m, um mm) Sept. l, 1970 Q F, PAVUN ET AL. 3,526,099

HEAT EXCHANGING APPARATUS` Filed Feb. 29, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Sept. 1, l1970 c. F. PAvLlN ET Al. 3,526,099

HEAT EXCHANGING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 29, 1968 man, (peg,

Patented Sept. 1, 1970 ,014 Int. Cl. F25b 9/00 U.S. Cl. 62-88 17 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE The invention comprehends a heat exchange apparatus, in particular a refrigerating apparatus, operating by compression and expansion of gas, in which the gas is heated or cooled in fluid bi-stable members whereby the compression and expansion of the gas are caused to alternate.

This invention relates to improvements to apparatuses for heat exchange, in particular refrigerating apparatuses, in order to improve the e'lciency of these apparatuses and also to enable the latter to be produced without the need for moving parts.

According to the invention, to this end a gas is heated or cooled in fluid switch members whereby the compression and expansion of the gas are caused to alternate.

These fluid switch members may be combined with conventional heat exchangers or with valve systems, for example of a mechanical type or in the form of a vortex diode.

In this specification, vortex diode means an enclosure having a cylindrical wall and two other walls, each disposed at one end of the cylindrical wall, at least one oritice in the cylindrical wall extending substantially tangentially to that wall, and an orifice in at least one of the other two walls situated in the vicinity of and extending substantially in parallel with the axis of the cylindrical wall.

Several uid switch members may be used either in parallel or in series, where appropriate, combined with iiuid multivibrators.

The installation may have one or several stages.

It may be used to cool or heat either the gas that supplies it or fluid other than that of gas.

This invention also has the great advantage that the driving gas is caused to operate in slices with practically total transfer of energy.

The apparatuses resulting from the invention may be supplied by conventional sources such as a compressed air distribution system. They may comprise elements of simple and robust manufacture providing reliable operation for a practically unlimited period.

The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings given by Way of non-limitative example will show how the invention can be effected, the features emerging from the drawings and the text forming, of course, part of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view in a longitudinal section of an apparatus according to the invention with an automatic-inversion uid switch member with heat exchangers.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to the preceding one, in which the delivery current of the uid switch member serves to supply the primary circuit at one of the exchangers.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to the two preceding ones, but in which the delivery current of the fluid switch member is used to subject to supplementary cooling the huid to be cooled by the apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to the preceding ones showing an apparatus with several stages and a single fluid switch member used for cooling a huid other than the gas supplying it.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to the preceding one of an apparatus with several stages for cooling the driving gas.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are views similar to the preceding ones thus relating to apparatuses with several stages, each stage having its tluid switch member.

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic view inv longitudinal section of an apparatus having two uid switch members supplied by a uid multivibrator.

FIG. 9 is a view in longitudinal section of an apparatus having a uid switch member with valves and intended to be supplied by a pulse gas current.

FIGS. 10 and 11 are respectively sections along X-X and XI--XI in FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 9 showing two fluid switch members mounted in parallel and supplied by a iluid multivibrator.

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 9 showing a uid switch member with valves with automatic inversion by means of a return loop introducing a time constant.

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 9, but in which the valves have been replaced by vortex diodes.

FIG. 15 shows a variant with an automatic-inversion fluid switch member supplyable by a continuous current of pressure gas.

FIG. 16 shows an installation with several stages of double uid switch members supplied by multivibrators.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a source 1 of pressure gas, which will for convenience hereinafter be termed high-pressure gas or propellant, supplies by means of a conduit 2 a fluid switch member 3.

The fluid switch member 3 has substantially in the axis of the conduit 2 a preferential-flow conduit 4 from which starts, downstream, a control channel 5 ending opposite a clearance space 6, preferably connected to the atmosphere, upstream of a secondary escape conduit 7. The ilow in the conduit 4 is made preferential as a result of the presence of the recess 4a downstream of the conduit 7.

The preferential-how conduit 4 is connected, while widening, to a tubular enclosure 8 containing two exchangers through which the gas coming from the huid switch member passes, i.e. an exchanger 9 through the secondary circuit of which passes the fluid that is to be cooled, which enters and leaves through tubes 10, and an exchanger 11 with a substantially constant temperature, through which passes, for example, for this purpose a uid such as water of an appropriate temperature and flow, which enters and leaves through the tube 12.

The apparatus operates as follows:

When the source of high-pressure gas is connected to the conduit 2, the jet of gas entering the fluid switch member 3 uses the preferential-flow conduit 4. The pressure rises in the enclosure 8. The gas undergoes substantially isothermal compression in the part of the enclosure that contains the exchanger 11 and adiabatic compression in the zone downstream of the part of the enclosure 8 that does not contain the exchangers 9 and 11. Before the compression is established in the entire enclosure y8, the control channel 5 is subjected to pressure and this causes the diversion of the jet towards the escape conduit 7. The jet then exerts suction of the gas in the conduit 4 through a syphon elect. As the result the gas in the enclosure 8 expands. The expansion is isothermal for the gas in the part of the enclosure that contains the exchanger 11 and adiabatic in the zone downstream of the part of the enclosure 8 that does not contain the exchangers 9 and 11. There results cooling of the gas, which borrows heat from the exchanger 9.

As a result of the expansion of the gas the pressure fallsin the control channel 5. Its diverting action on the jet issuing from the conduit 2 ceases, since the pressure becomes less than that of the conduit `6 owing to the suction inthe conduit 4. This reduced pressure causes thejet -to pass once again into the conduit 4. The cycle-described is repeated.

The duidswitch member therefore sendsinto the ap- :paratus the pulsating gas current, and it is found that this currentsupplies heat to the exchanger 11, borrows it conduit 1-3, making it possible to use the exhaustgas mixed with-the driving jet =when the latteruses the conduit 7 as a cooling lfluid and dispenses with the use of a separate cooling uid. It has been foundthat the c ooled mixture of' jet and exhaust gas is still' much colderthan the compressed and therefore heated. gas of the enclosure 8. The arrangement maybe improved by associating with the exchanger 11 a thermal flywheel, which will reduce the delivery Variations of the pulsed flow. A heat-insulated space may be inserted between the conduit 13 and the exchanger 12.

FIG. 3 shows another way of using the low-pressure exhaust gas, according to which the exhaust conduit 7 supplies one of the circuits of an auxiliary exchanger'14, through which passes the fluid to be cooled entering or leaving the exchanger 9 through the conduit 1'5. Thus the temperature of this fluid is reduced once again.

In FIG. 4, the f tluid switch member 3 supplies by its preferential-flow conduit 4 a series of regenerators 16, 17 and 18 formed by enclosures lined with material 19 having a high heat capacity, such as piles of Wire gauze, metal gauze, etc. having sufficient interstices for the passage of the gas.

The enclosure 8 has several stages 20, 24 and 30 respectively supplied from the regenerators 16, 17 and 1'8 by the conduits 22, 27 and 31, respectively.

The stage 20 has an exchanger 11 of substantially constant temperature and an exchanger 21. Their primary circuits are supplied from the regenerator 16 through the conduit 22 and their secondary circuits respectively with low-pressure gas through a conduit 13 terminating at the exhaust conduit 7 of the bi-stable member 3 and from the primary circuit of the exchanger 26 of the stage 24.

The stage 24 has the exchanger 21 which has just been described together with the stage 2.0 and an exchanger 26 together with the stage 30: Y 'Ihe primary circuit of the exchanger 26 is supplied from the regenerator 17 by the conduit 27 and its secondary circuit by the primary circuit of the exchanger 9 of the stage 30.

T he stage 30 has the exchanger 26 which has just been described together with the stage 24 and'an exchanger 9 whose primary circuit is supplied from the regenerator 18 through the conduit 31 and the secondary circuit by the external fluid it is `desired to cool entering and leaving through the tubes The uid to be Cooled may be any desired uid, for instance differentto that supplied by the `source 1.

To sum up, the enclosure 8 has two extreme exchangers, 11 having a substantially constant-'temperature and 9 -for cooling, and intermediate'exchangers4 whose primary circuit belongs to one stage and thesecondary circuit to the next stage acting similarly to the exchangers 11 and 9.

The number of stages is not, of. course, limitative, and

'c'ooling of this gas. It is then found that the mixture of driving jet .exhaust gas is colder than the driving jet.

As aresult the mixture is sent through the -conduit 13 to act as a cooling fluidat the isothermal exchanger 11.

. The suction causes an expansion of the gas in the stages 20, 24 and 30. There results a cooling of the gas which borrows heat `from the secondary circuit of the exchangers 21, 26 and 9 respectively."Ihus these exchangers 21, 2.6 and9 are used in this operating phase as substantially isothermal exchangers.

In the case of FIG. 5., the multiple-stage apparatus is used to cool the lpressure gas coming from the source 1, it is similar to that ofthe preceding example, except that the exchanger 11 is kept at a substantially constant temperature by a current of external uid arriving and leaving through the tube 12, while the exhaust conduit 7 of the-fluid switch member is connected |by a conduit"32 to a secondary circuit of the exchanger 9.

InV the embodiment in FIG. 4 the driving jet passing lthrough the conduit 13 acts as 'a cooling fluid and escapes into the exchangers 11, while in the embodiment in FIG. 5 Ithis jet is the iluid it is proposed to cool.

` I n the variant in FIG. 6 several stages are provided, but each'of them has its uid switch member.

The reservoir '1 supplies through the conduit 2 vthe primary circuits of two'exchangers 9 and 11,' respectively, of the vstage 8. The Vsecondary circuit of the exchanger 9 is passed through by a currentof gas derived from the conduit 2 by means, of a conduit 33 and that of the exchanger 11 by the mixture of driving jet and expanded lgas using'the conduit 13 as described with reference to FIG. 2. The conduit 13 supplies one of the circuits of an exchanger 34 and also of an exchanger 35.`

The second stage has a uid switch member 3a, which supplies a conduit 2a connected to the conduit 33 and which serves an enclosure 8a. The secondary circuit of the exchanger 9a is supplied by a loop 33h of the conduit 33, while the secondary circuit of the exchanger A11a is supplied by a conduit 13a connected to the exhaust conduit 7a of the fluid switch member. The conduit 13a also supplies one of the circuits of an exchanger 36 and the second circuit of the exchanger 35.

A third stage has a bi-stable member 3b supplied with pressure gas through a conduit 2b connected to the conduit 33. The secondary circuit of the exchanger 9bof this stage is supplied by means of a loop 33h of the conduit 33 and the gas, thus. cooled, departs `for use or to a subsequent stage. The secondary circuit of the exchanger 11b is supplied through the exhaust conduit 13b, which also serves the second circuits of the exchangers 36 and M b FIG. 7" shows a similarvariant in which vthe exhaust conduits 13, 13a and 13b"elTect supplementary heat exchangel with the gas which passes through the conduit 33 by means of exchangers`37', 37a, 37b.

' y According to'the'emboclimentshown variant in FIG.

8, two symmetrical apparatuses, each having an enclosure Sabor 8b, supplied by a simple uid switch member 38a o1" 38h respectively with the interposition of a regenerator 16a or 1Gb of the type described above areserved by a common gas source 1 on theoutlet conduit 2 of lwhich isVV installed a multivibrator39 whose outlet tubes 39a and 39ba're connected with the iluid switch members 38z and 38h respectively.Vv

' In the embodiment described a multivibrator of this kind v has two outlet conduits, which are symmetrical with respect toits inlet conduit, and a closed loop 40 is provided at the outlet of this inlet conduit.

At the outlet of the inlet conduit 39C the jet engages in one or other of the outlet tubes. If for example this tube is the tube 39a there results a suction of gas through the corresponding orifice 40a of the loop 40, hence at 4Gb the transmission of a reduced pressure which causes the jet to be diverted so as to pass through the tube 39b. The direction of suction is then reversed in the loop, this being shown by a fresh diversion of the jet, which returns at 39a, etc. The apparatus delivers alternately a jet of gas through its outlet tubes at a rate that depends on the characteristics of the multivibrator 39. The fluid switch members 38a and 38h are therefore supplied by pulse 'gas currents, the apparatuses operating together here so that each cools part of the exhaust current directed towards the exchanger 9a or 9b through branches 41a or 41b of a conduit 41 to which are connected the lowpressure exhaust conduits of the fluid switch members.

The characteristics of the multivibrator will be chosen advantageously so that the period of change from one stable state to another of the multivibrator 39 is such that the pulsation of the jet is long enough to borrow the two ways of the fluid switch members 38a or 38h, enabling the enclosures 8a and 8b to be emptied by a syphon effect.

The regenerators 16a and 16b supply the enclosures 8a and 8b Whose secondary circuits of the exchangers 9a and 9b are passed through in this device by an external fluid entering and leaving through the tubes a and 10b.

In FIGS. 9 and 1l and the following figures the device enables one to dispense with heat exchangers while enabling considerable cooling of the driving gas to be effected. Thus a switch member 42 is used whose supply tube 43 serves two divergent conduits 44 and 45 oriented and disposed so that the gas flow issuing from the tube 43 tends to pass through the conduit 44 which is therefore preferred.

To do this, the conduit 44 is disposed for example substantially in the axis of the supply tube 43 and the conduit 45 may have a recess that is considerably more pronounced than that of the conduit 44. To make the conduit 44 preferred with regard to the flow, it may be enough for its general angle to form a considerably smaller angle with that of the tube 43 than the general diversion of the conduit 45 makes with that of this tube.

The preferred conduit 44 is formed by a Wall 46 in which there is an aperture 47, which a valve 48 tends to obscure. This valve 48 is disposed downstream and held by a compression spring 49 carried by a crosspiece 50 (FIG. 1l). The latter is clamped between flanges provided at the end of the conduit and at that of a section 51. The conduit, crosspiece and section are secured by means of bolts or rivets 52. The preferred conduit 44 is also formed laterally with an aperture 53 to which a valve 54 is connected. This valve, which opens when the valve 48 closes, i.e. on suction, is carried by a perforated plate 55 secured to a box 56 (FIG. 10).

It is formed, for example, by a disc 71 whose flexibility is chosen for opening at a given reduced pressure in the conduit 44 and which is secured by means of a rivet 72, for example, to the plate 55. When at rest the disc 71 stops up the apertures 73.

'I'he yfluid switch member 42 is supplied by an advantageously pulsating ygas current, which may be supplied as shown by FIG. 12 by a multivibrator 39 whose outlet tubes 39a, 39h are respectively connected to two identical fluid switch members 42a and 4211 and disposed symmetrically. A closed loop 40 is provided at the outlet of supply tube 43 in the same manner and substantially for the same purpose as described with reference to loop 40 on the embodiment shown in FIG. 8. The conduits 45a and 45b of the lfluid switch members terminate in an exhaust conduit 57, while the end pieces 51a and 51b of the preferred conduits 44a and 44b are connected to a conduit 58.

The multivibrator 39 sends puffs of gas alternately to the fluid switch members 42a and 42h.

Each puff arrives in the preferred conduit, in which it is compressed, and heats by impact the gas in that conduit so as to deliver it in opposition to the calibrated valve 48a or 48h.

The final part of the puff, which has been cooled because of the expansion it has undergone, has not enough dynamic pressure to get past the valve and the residual pressure in the preferred conduit delivers the gas to the conduit 45, thus causing the inversion of the fluid switch member. The final part of the puff then passes into the conduit 45 and empties the conduit 44 by a syphon effect and produces a reduction of pressure in the preferred conduit and consequently the opening of the suction valve 54a or 54b and the admission of a new slice of gas, which will be compressed by the succeeding pu. 'I'he flow in the conduit 45 ceases with the puff.

The cycle is repeated automatically without using any moving parts other than the valve.

At the outlet of each fluid switch member there are firstly a medium-pressure gas that has been heated and secondly low-pressure gas that lilas been cooled and mixed with the driving jet.

The flows are pulsed, but as the two fluid switch members are supplied alternately by the multivibrator 39 and their outlets are united, practically continuous currents are found, although they are of variable flow rate, in the conduits 57 of cooled gas and 58 of heated gas.

FIG. 13 shows a fluid switch member 42 equipped so as to be able to operate with a continuous supply of gas.

For this purpose the preferred conduit 44 has a branch 59 which terminates in a space 60 defined by a cylinder 60a connected by a pipe 61 to the neck of the fluid switch member.

When pressure gas is sent through the supply tube 43 the gas passes into the preferred conduit 44 where it compresses the gas already there and delivers it, while heating it, in opposition to the valve 48.

At the same time part of the gas passies through the branch 59 into the space 60 in which it gradually establishes an excess pressure, which is transmitted through the pipe 61 to the neck of the fluid switch member. At the end of a length of time which varies according to the contents of the space 60 and the constrictions of the conduit 59 and 61 which introduce a time constant into the operation of the apparatus, the pressure exerted by the pipe 61 becomes sufficient to divert the gas jet towards the conduit 45.

From this moment the pressure falls in the preferred conduit 44. As a result of the syphon effect the gas escapes from this conduit and from the space 60, while fresh gas is sucked =by the valve 54. At the end of a certain length of time the pressure in the conduit 45 becomes enough to cause the gas to change over to the preferred conduit and the cycle is repeated automatically.

FIG. 14 shows a variant of the switch member 42 similar to the one that has been described with reference t0 FIGS. 9 and ll, but in which the valves are replaced by vortex diodes 62, 63 and 64 or fluid diodes, such as those that have been described in U.S. Pat. No. 1,329,559.

It is known that a vortex diode has a cylindrical space such as the space 62 a of the vortex diode 62 into which opens tangentially a tube 62h and also at least one axial tube 62C. When -gas is caused to arrive through the tangential tube, this gas must carry out an eddying movement before passing out through the axial tube. This movement causes a considerable pressure drop which slows down the flow of gas from the tangential tube to the axial tube.

On the other hand, if gas is sent through the axial tube it can come out directly without eddying through the tangential tube. The pressure drop of the diode itself is slow in this case.

i In the example shown, the fluid switch members being assumed -tobe supplied 'by a pulsating gas current, as in 62. The gas passes through the tangentialstube 63b of the diodev 63 at the cost of a relatively low pressure drop.

The eddy causes a suicient increase of pressure in the conduit 44.to cause the jet to. change over to the conduit 45.

Y lAt the-.same time ay small diverted current vpasses through the tangential tube 64b of the vortex diodev64 in which it establishes an eddy whose pressure drop limits to a negligible value the-flowescaping through the outlet orifice. As a result the diode practicallyprevents the gas from escaping. Y v

When the finalpart of the gas puff expands the` vortex diode 63 prevents practically any return of gas, while the vortex diode 64 permits the conduit 44 to be filled again, thus acting like the valve 54 in FIG. 9. The ow in the coinduit 45 ends with the puff.

In the variant in FIG. 15, the Huid switch member 42, which is intended to be supplied by a continuous current of pressure gas like that in FIG. 13, has only the two vortex diodes 62 and 63 mounted in opposition.

It operates as follows. The gas jet arriving through the tube 43 iirst passes through the preferred conduit 44. It is considerably slowed down by a vortex diode 62 and the diverted current passing through the pipe 59 goes to till the space 60 and increase there the pressure transmitted by the pipe 61 which, when it is suicient, vdiverts the jet towards the exhaust conduit 45 at the end of a length of time corresponding to the time constant introduced by the space 60 and the restriction of the conduits 59 and 60.

The gas then expands in the preferred conduit and the space 60, the vortex box 63 only allowing a small gas return ow. The cycle is repeated automatically.

There therefore issues from the apparatus through the conduit cooled low-pressure gas and fresh gas issuing from the diode 64 mixed with the main jet, and, through the tangential tube 63b of the diode 63, heated mediumpressure gas.

y FIG. 16 shows an installation with multiple stages of fluid switch members which are for simplicitys sake of the type described with reference to FIG. l2 but would preferably in practice be of the kind described with reference to FIG.- 14 in order to eliminate effectively any moving part.

v The pressure gas supply conduit 2 terminates at the multivibrator 39 of the rst stage which supplies the two uid switch 'members 42a and 42h of that stage.

The heated medium-pressure gas leaves the fluid switch members through the end pieces 51a and 51b. i v

The cooled low-pressure gas escapes through the conduit 57 and passes through the primary circuit of an exchanger 66 from which it escapes at 67. l y 4 The multivibrator 139 of the secondstage is supplied by a bypass conduit 68 connected to the conduit 2 upstream of the multivibrator 39 of the iirst stage.

The valves 154e and 154b of the iiuid switch members 142a and 14212 of the second stage are supplied with cooled gas by means of conduits 69 and 70 through the low-pressure outlet conduit of the iirst stage.

' Tlieheated medium-pressure gas issues ythrough the end pieces'151a and 151b of the fluid switch members 4italiana 142e i The low-pressure outlet conduit 1 57 ofthe second stage supplies the primary circuit of an exchanger 166 whose outlet tube 167 terminates at the exchanger 66 of the lpreceding stage.

Y The secondary circuit of the exchanger 166 is supplied by a conduit 168 connected upstream of the multivibrator 139 of the second stage to the conduitr 68 supplying that multivibrator.

The conduit 168 supplies the multivibrator 239 of the third stage.

The latter,l as.` in theprecedingv stages,I serves the fluid switch members 242s' and 242livwhoseoutlet end pieces 25141 and 251b.are connected bya conduit 25S toth'e exchanger 66 'at thephead ofthe preceding stage.

' Thev valvs`-2542t and 254i; are?st lpplie'd'fby conduits 161 and'170` offthe low-pressure conduit 157 ff, the preceding stage. i

The low-pressure outlet conduit 257 of the third stage supplies the primary circuit of the exchanger 266, whose vsecondary circuit is supplied by a conduit 2:68, andthis arrangement is reproducedfrom stage tostage as far as the last stage, whose multivibrator 1139 supplies the duid switch members 42a Vandl1'142'b, the heated gas returning through -theconduit 1158 to the inlet l excharxgerof the preceding .stageand the cooled -low-)LzaressureI gas issuing through theconduit n 57 to z gotoits destination. l

The operation of the apparatus that .has just been described .is-readily, understandable afterA the detailed explanation that has been given with-reference to the simplestage apparatus.

It will be realised thatthe low-pressure gas escaping from .theirststage servesiirstly to supply with cooled gas the valves 154a and 15419 of the, sc condi'stage and secondly to cool the propellant enteringthe multivibrator 139 ofthe second stage. In the first stage theheated medium-pressure gas may be used separately.

This feature is preserved in the second stage, but from the third stage the medium-pressure gas, whose temperature is lower than that of the propellantsupplied-by the conduit `2, is conveyed. to the inlet exchanger ofthe preceding stage whereit contributes towards cooling the gas enteringthat stage. y

To give an idea ofthe possibilities of the apparatus it will be assumed for the sake of simplicity that the flows in the two channels of the uid switch members are adjusted so that the fraction delivered under pressure is heated substantially as much as the expanded fraction is cooled. This caribe done,v for example, by vadjusting thetime .constant of the conduits -of the fluid .switch members. This adjustment maybe producedl by acting on the multivibrator (supply ow and frequency) on the volumes of conduits downstream of the multivibrator and on the valves (opening pressure) whose condition is not indispensable but makes for simplicity.

The high-pressure uid is cooled at the inlet of each stage by means of low-temperature and low-pressure gas issuing from the preceding stage.

It is also assumed that the iiuid recompressed at each stage is taken at the temperature of the propellant of the corresponding stage.

This being so the uid switch member delivers at medium pressure heated gas of AT and at low pressure cooled gas of AT. Thecold gas serves to cool the driving air of the next stage, andthe vheated gas of AT serves to cool the propellant of the preceding stage. This mediumpressure makes it possible to s uck, by a syphon effect, the low-pressure: gases issuing from the exchanger of its own stage and lthe low-pressure circuit of the stage precedingitby tworanks. v l; y

The driving slow, yand therefore .thesizeof thev fluid devices, decreases from `stage togstage, as do the ows of theexchangers. f

Atone extremity ofthe apparatus thereis a relatively large flow of heated gas of;ATV and -at--theotherend;I at the outletofthe next stage, there isa small ow'of'cooled gaSOfnAT',. ,5., I. .l

I Modifications may,of course, be made-inthe embodiments that havej-ustbeen described, rfor instance by the substitution of equivalent `technical means,'withoutgo ing beyond the scope off` this invention. x. v

9 We claim:

1. A heat exchange apparatus operating by compression and expansion of a luid and having at least one stage, comprising:

a source of iiuid under pressure;

a rst conduit connected to said source; and

a iirst uid switch on said rst conduit; said first switch having two outlet conduits arranged in a manner for directing said uid into a preferred one of said outlet conduits, said one of said outlet conduits being provided with means for limiting the extent of fluid output therein in relation to the pressure of said uid, and the other of said outlet conduits being connected to an exhaust conduit for collecting cooled uid, said limiting means serving to heat said uid by compression and subsequently cause said uid to cool by expansion whereupon the residual pressure within said preferred conduit delivers the cooled fluid to said other conduit, the axis of said one and said other of said outlet conduits being inclined with respect to the axis of said first conduit, and the axis of said one of said outlet conduits being less inclined as compared to the axis of said other of said outlet conduits whereby said one of said outlet conduits is made preferred with regard to the fluid ow.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for limiting the extent of fluid output comprises a spring loaded valve.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for limiting the extent of iluid output comprises a uid diode.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said one of said outlet conduits terminates in a pair of fluid diodes mounted in opposition, the tangential inlet tube of one of said diodes being connected to said one of said outlet conduits.

S. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said one of said outlet conduits is provided with means for allowing escape of uid at a mean pressure within said one conduit and for allowing an inlet of iluid at a reduced pressure within said one conduit.

`6. An apparatus as claimed in claim S, wherein a lateral duct is connected to said one of said outlet conduits and a fluid diode is connected to said lateral duct for allowing the inlet of said iluid at a reduced pressure into said one of said outlet conduits.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fluid switch is provided with a retroacting means for diverting said fluid into the other of said outlet conduits.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said retroacting means comprises a cylinder having an inlet tube connected to said switch and an outlet tube connected to said one of said outlet conduits, said cylinder having a capacity for allowing an adjustment of the time constant of operation of said uid switch.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rst conduit is divided into a pair of branch conduits, said rst uid switch being on one of said branch conduits and a second fluid switch on the other of said branch conduits, means provided for alternately directing said uid into either of said branch conduits, said second fluid switch also having two outlet conduits arranged in a manner for directing said tluid alternately into one or the other of said second switch outlet conduits, said one of said second switch outlet conduits being provided with means for limiting the extent of fluid output therein in relation to the pressure of said liuid, and the other of said second switch outlet conduits being connected to said exhaust conduit.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said means for alternately directing said fluid into either of said branch conduits comprises a closed loop the ends of which are connected to said rst conduit symmetrically upstream of the division of said rst conduit into branches.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the axis of said one and said other of each pair of said outlet conduits are inclined with respect to the axis of the respective one of said branch conduits, the axis of each said one of said outlet conduits being less inclined as compared to the axis of each said other of said outlet conduits.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said means for limiting the extent of fluid output comprises a spring loaded valve.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said one of said second switch outlet conduits is provided with means for allowing escape of iluid at a mean pressure within said one second switch conduit and for allo-wing an inlet of iluid at a reduced pressure within said one second switch conduit.

14. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said one outlet conduits are joined together.

15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 comprising a plurality of stages, wherein the cooled fluid issuing from said exhaust conduit of one stage is used for cooling the fluid inlet in another following stage.

`16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein in each stage, said one outlet conduit is provided with means for allowing escape of fluid at a mean pressure and for allowing an inlet of uid at a reduced pressure, the cooled fluid issuing from one stage being used to feed the reduced pressure fluid inlet means of a subsequent stage.

17. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1S wherein in each stage, said one outlet conduit is provided with means for allowing escape of fluid at a mean pressure and for allowing an inlet of fluid at a reduced pressure and wherein the luid escape at mean pressure of one stage is used for drawing in the iluid at a reduced pressure issuing on one hand from said one stage and, on the other hand, from another stage preceding said one stage by two ranks.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,321,343 11/ 1919 Vuilleumier 62-88 1,459,270 6/ 1923 Vuilleumier 62-88 3,237,421 3/1966 Gilford 62-88 3,314,244 4/ 1967 Green 62-88 LLOYD L. KING, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 152-6, 467 

